Planooraph co



0. A. THELIN. TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICA TION FILED FEB. 8. 1918. 1,315,535. Patented-Sept. 9, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

A. THELIN. IORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8.491s.

1,315,535. PatentdSept S), 1919.

f v 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/7' INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

OLA. THEL|N.'- TORPEDO LAUNCHINGIAPPARATUS. APPLICATION man ma. 3. ms.

. C) muw Patentd'Sept. 9,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

, 7 INVENTOR SQM RM,

' BY l 0. A. TH ELIN. TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8. l9l8.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- J Mum,

INVENTOR BSJXW Q by ATTORNEYS.

UNITED sTATEsPATENT OFFICE.

oscnn A. THEIiIN, or nonrniv, nonwA Assrenoa'ro nnncrnicnoa'r coMPANY, A; CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY. r

TonPnno-LAUNcHINc APPAnArUs.

Specification or Letters Patent. P t nt d se t. 9, 1919.

Application filed February 8, 1918; Serial No. 215,960.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownlthat I, OSCAR A. TI-IELIN, a subject of the King of Norway, residing at Horten, Norway, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo- Launching Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to Which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for firing torpedoes, particularly installations in which compressed air is admitted to the rear portion of a torpedo-tube to expel a torpedo therefrom.

The invention is directed to the provision of a torpedo launching apparatus of animproved construction in which the torpedo eXpelling devices and the breech andmuzzle doors of the torpedo tube are interlocked SO- that one-door can be openedonly when the other is locked closed and so that the expelling devices are rendered operativeonly when the muzzle door is open and the breech door locked closed. The several interlocks are combined in a single compact structure, preferably mounted on a single support carried by the tube adjacent to the breech endthereof, and therefore conveniently located for inspection, replacement and repair. An operating device is provided near the breech end of the tubefor opening and closing the muzzle door, and at least one mechanical element of each of the various interlocks is connected to this operating device so as to be actuated thereb e d Other features of the invention together with the advantages inherent therein will be understood by reference to the following description in connection :with the accompanying drawings showing the construction which constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In these drawings, Figure .1 is a vertical section taken transversely through a submarine boat and showing in elevation the breech end of an installation including two torpedo tubesQFig. Qis a section onthe line 22 ofFig. 1; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view partly in plan and partly in section Fig. 1 is a section on the line le dof Fig. 3,; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 shows the parts of Fig. 5when viewed in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 5;

- air conduit 18".

Fig. 7 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 4;. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 1s a top plan view of the muzzle. end of a torpedotube. f r 1 Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, theinstallation shown consists of a pair of torpedotubes 9 mounted one above the other at the bow of a submarine boat. The installation includes a tube-selector valve 11- which is an ordinary rotaiy valve, having a handle 11 fixed to its valve spindle 11 actuable to so set the valve as to place either a pipe 13 or a pipe 13 in communication with a pipe Pipe 13 is selected when it is desired to discharge a torpedo from upper tube 9; and pipe 13 is selected when it is desired to discharge a torpedo from the lower tube. P113613 leads toa pipe 16, and pipe 161eads to the torpedo expulsion valve 17 of the upper tube 9. Pipe 13" leads .to a pipelG" which leads to the torpedo expulsion valve 17' of the lower tube. Pipe 12 receives compressed air from a pipe 14 leading from a suitable source, when a firing valve 15 is opened: by actuating the lever 15*.

The expulsion valve 17 of the upper tube is connected to a compressedair conduit 18; and the expulsion valve 17 of the lower tube is similarly connected to a compressed These valves 17 and 17 are of the usual balanced type. When air is fed from the pipe 16 to the expulsion valve 17, the valve is unbalanced, a piston-rod 17% (see Fig. 2) is moved to the right and retracts the torpedo stop block (not shown) by means of a link 17, and torpedo expelling air is admitted to the upper tube from the conduit 18 byway of the connection 17.

A similaraction takesplace with respect to the lower tube when air is admitted from pipe 13" to p pe 16, the construction of the {two tubes andtheir associated partsbeing the same exceptas may be noted herein.

An interlock valve 19 is carried by a bracket 19, mounted on the right-hand side of upper tube 9, the valve being interposed ;bctwecnp1pes13 and 16. The i11terio rcon struction of this valve is shownin Figs. 7 and 8. The valvecomprises a housing 19 haviiig a sleeve l9 fixed therein provided with lateral ports 19. and 19 A rotary spindle having a conical main body 19 and reduced terminal portions 19 and? 19 works in the sleeve 19"; the spindle having formed therein a central passage 19 closed at one end by a screw cap 19 and communicating with ports 19*" and 19. The housing 19 has an induction port 19, into which is threaded pipe 13 (as shown in Fig. 2), and with an eduction port 19 where the pipe 16 is threaded into the housing as shown in Fig. 3. An end cap 19 cages an expansile spring 19 on the portion 199 of the spindle. When the spindle 19 is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8, communication between the pipes 13 and16 is shut off, but when the spindle is moved from that closed. or inoperative position to the open or operative position, the port 19? is carried into registry with the ports 19 and 19 and the port 19"--is carried into registry with the ports 19 and 19, thereby connecting pipe 16 to pipe 13. The reduced terminal portion 19 of the spindle 19 has a disk 20 ,(Figs. 4: and 5) fixed thereon provided with arms 20 and 20 The arm 20 is connected to one end of a retractile spring 21 which normally holds the disk 20 and the spindle 19 to which it is connected the position for maintaining the interlock valve closed. The arm 20 of the disk 20 is arranged in the path of movement of an arm 23 fixed on a shaft 24 so that when the arm is moved from the position in which it is shown in full lines in Fig. 6 to the position indicated by the dot and dash line in that figure, it engages the arm 20" of the disk 20 and moves that arm and the spindle 19 to whichit is affixed, to the position for opening the interlock. valve 19. The shaft 24 is rotated to move the arm 23 over this range when the-main shaft 27 of-the torpedo launching apparatus is turned to open the muzzle door of the tube by means of a worm 26 on the shaft 27 meshing with a worm wheel 25 on the shaft 24:.

The. muzzle door is shown at 28 in Fig. 9; The outer end of shaft 27 .is threaded and enters a threaded bore in an axially movable cylindrical member 29 located 1n a cylindrical opening in a bulkhead which supports the muzzle end of the torpedo tubes. The member 29 is connected by a link 30 to one end of a bell-crank lever 31 fulcrumed at 32 and having its opposite end pivotally connected to a lug 28 cast upon the-muzzle door 28. When the operating shaft 27 is rotated, the cylinder 29 is moved in the direction of its axis and thus operates through the link 30 and bell-crank lever 31 to swing the muzzle door 28 from the closed position in which it is shown in Fig. 9 to an open position out of the line of fire of the torpedo tube or vice versa.

The breech door 34L of each tube-is of the well. known hinged type having its periphery threaded to coact with threads on the 1 interior of a breech ring 35, the exterior of .muzzle door is closed.

ing lugs or segments 35 (Figs. 3 and 4). When the breech door 34 with 1ts ring 35 1s swung to the closed positlon, the lugs 35 passthrough spaces between corresponding slot 9 in the breech end of the tube 9. The

end of this arm 37 a of the lever projects into the path of movement of one of the lugs 35 of the breech ring 35. The lever 37 has two other arms 37 and 37, the latter of which has a claw 37 adapted to coact with the teeth of the ratchet 36 on operating shaft 27. The arm 37 has one end of a spring 38 attached thereto and the opposite end of the spring is connected to a stud 38 on the tube 9. Fig. 4 shows the breech door in the closed position with its lugs 35 behind the lu s 9 of the tube. In looking the door in this position, the ring 35 was moved in the direction of the arrow designated C on Fig. 4, and as the ring was moved in this direction the lug 35 engaged the end of arm 37 of lever 37 and looked that lever against the tension of the spring 38. This movement of lever 37 effected by the lug 35 carried the lever 37 from the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. d to the position in which the lever 37 is shown in full lines.

ing of the muzzle door except when the breech door is closed and locked in the closed position by the coacting lugs 35 and 9.

Means are also provided for preventing opening of the breech door except when the For this purpose a lever 40 is pivotally mounted upon the under .side of the bracket 19' at 40 and one arm of back and forth in the direction of its length in an opening 41 provided for its reception in the breech end of the tube 9, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and the movement of this bolt carries its end into and out of the path of "breech door is held in its retracted position the opening 42*.

itiatee movement of oneof the locking lugs 35 of the breechring 35. The positio'n of the end of bolt 41With respect tothelocking lug 35 with which it coacts is shoWnin Fig. 4. When the bolt has been moved to its opera tive position, as shown inFig.4, rotation of the breech ring to permit opening the breech door ispreclu'ded. On the other hand, When the bolt41is retracted to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3," the breech ring 35 may be "rotatedand the breech door opened. Thelever 40' is providedWith an arm 40 Which is adapted to be engaged by the end of the arm 23 on the shaft 24to turn the lever40 onits pivot against the tension of the spring 21 heretofore referred to as connectedto one of the arms or the disk 20 for operating the interlock valve. posite end of this spring 21 is connected to The opthe end of a third arm on thelever 40.

"Referring to Figs. 1 and2, the upper end ofthe vertical'shaft 24 extends into a fixed signal-box 42provided With a suitable transe parent Window or opening 42*. A slgnal drum 43 is carriedbythe portion ofthe shaft 24 which extends into the signal-box. lVith the parts arranged aslshovvn in the drawings, that is, With the muzzle door closed, the drum 43 displays through the 30 opening 42 the vvord Closed. The drum may also carry the Word Open or [an equivalent indicatlon, so positioned on the drum that when the horizontal shaft 27is rotated sufficiently to open the muzzle door, the WordOpen will be displayed through The operation of the apparatusyfwill now be described. Normally-the muzzle door of the tube is closed. The breechdoor may then be opened, as the bolt 41 for locking the againstthe tension of spring 21 by the arm 23engaging the end40 of lever 40. A torpedo having'jbeen placed in the. tube,the breech door 34 is closed and the breech ring 35 is rotated a distance sufficientuto carry the lugs 35 behind the lugs 9 on the breech of the tube. While the breech; is open,it is impossible to open the muzzle door,*as rotation of the horizontal operating shaft 27is jprevented by the engagement of-theclavv 37 of lever 37 with the manage However, as soon as the breech door closed and its may now turn the handle 33 and rotate the haft 27 to open, the muzzle door 28."The

shaft24 is turned; With the shaft 27 through 1 the Worm gearing connecting them and the first part of therotational movement carries the arm 23in an anti-clockwise direction, as

seen in Fig. 6, away from the arm 40 of lever 40, permitting the spring 21 to move the bolt 41 into position to lock the breech door closed. As the shaft27 is rotated further, the muzzle door opens more and more and Whenitis fully opened, the drum43 on the upper end of the shaft 24 no longer shows the closed signal at the signal box .42. Just before the muzzle door is fully opened, the arm 23011 the shaft 24 assumes the broken-line position of Fig. 6, theftip of the arm 23 engages the arm 20 on the spindle of the interlock valve 19 and the interlock valve is opened. Thus, Whenthe muzzle door is fully opened, the breechdoor is closed and locked closed, the signal-box 43 displays the WorkOpen,""and the interlock valve is held in the open position.

The gunner may have previously set the tube-selector valve 11 of Fig. lto place the pipes 12 and 13 in communication, or he may now so adjust the tube-selector valve. In either case, subsequent opening of the firing valve 15 will discharge the torpedo by admitting compressed air through pipe 12,

tube-selector valve 11, pipe 13, interlock valve 19 and pipe 16to actuate valve 17 and thereby admit torpedo-expelling. air from conduit 18 through connection 17 to the tubeex Aftera torpedo has been launched, the

gunner turns handle 33 and shaft 27 so as to close the muzzle door. Until this is done, it is impossible to open the breech door,

sincethe latter is locked by the bolt 41. On

turning the shaft 27 i to close themuzzle door,

the arm 23 moves in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 6, and first draws away from the arm 20 and so permits the interlock valve 19 to be closed by spring 21 and, thereafter the arm 23 engages the arm 40 of lever 40 and retracts the locking bolt 41 of the breech door to unlock the breech ring 35. At the conclusion of the operation of closing the muzzle door, the drum 4?).Wlll

again display the closed signal. When the muzzle door has been closed and the bolt 41 retracted, the breech ring 35 may be turned in the direction of the arrow 0 of Fig. 4 to permitopening the breech door.

QVVhen this is done, the spring 38 forces the claw 37 of the lever 37 into engagement I With the ratchet 36 on shaft 27, thereby locking the muzzle door closed.

It'vvill thus be seen that there is provided a safety operating mechanism for a torpedotube characterized by the provision of means for preventing either thebreech door or the muzzle door of the. tubebeing opened ex cept When the other is closed, means for preventing an effective. actuation of the firing-valve excelotwhenthe muzzle door is open and the breech door is locked closed,

and means for indicating Whether the muzzle door is closed or open. By this construction, opening of the muzzle door necessitates several rotations of shaft 27, and consequently long before the muzzle door is opened sufficiently to admit any considerable amount of sea water to the interior of the tube by Way of the muzzle, the bolt 41 will have been actuated to lock the breech door closed. The various interlocks, ,mechanical and pneumatic, are parts of a compact organization, located adjacent the breech end of the tube and therefore conveniently accessible for inspection, replacement and repair.

I claim: v

1. A torpedo launching apparatus comprisingthe combination of a tube, a breech door, a muzzle door, a shaft rotatable .to open and close the muzzle door, a single support mounted adjacent to the breech end of the tube and having a bearing for said shaft therein, a ratchet wheel on the shaft, a lever pivoted on said support in position toengage said ratchet and to be actuated by the breech door, a second lever pivotedon said support, a lock for the breech door actuated by the second lever, and means actuated by rotation of the shaft for operating the second lever; substantially as described.

2. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising the combination of a tube, a breech door, a muzzle door, a shaft rotatable to open and close. the muzzle door, a single support mounted adjacent to the breech end of the tube and having a bearing for said shaft therein, a ratchet wheelon the shaft, a lever pivoted on said support in position to engage said ratchet and to be actuated by the breech door, a second lever pivoted I on said support, a lock for the breech door actuated by the second lever, a valve mounted on said support and controlling the admission of air to the tube, and means actuated by the rotation of the shaft for operating said second lever; substantially as described. 3; .A torpedo launching apparatus comprising thecombination of a tube, a breech door, a muzzle door, a shaft rotatable to open and close the muzzle door, a bracket secured to the tube near the breech end thereof and having a bearing formed therein for 1 said shaft, a ratchet wheel on the shaft, a lever pivotally mounted on the bracket and adapted to lee operated by the breech door to cause it to engage said ratchet, a second lever pivoted on the bracket, a lock for the breech door actuated by the second lever, and means actuated by rotation of the shaft for operating the second lever; substantially as described.

4. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising the combination of a tube, a breech door, a muzzle door, a-shaft rotatable to open and close the muzzle door, a bracket secured to the tube near the breech end thereof and having a bearing formed therein for said shaft, a ratchet wheel on the shaft a lever pivotally mounted on the bracket an adapted to be operated by the breech door to cause it to engage said ratchet, a second lever pivoted on the bracket, a lock for the breech door actuated by the second lever, a Valve mounted on the bracket and controlling the admission of air to the tube to eXpel a torpedo therefrom, and means actuated by the rotation of the shaft for operating said second lever; substantially as described.

5. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising the combination of a tube, a muzzle door, a breech door, means for opening and tions when the muzzle door is opened and closed; substantially as described.

6. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising the combination of a tube, a breech door, a muzzle door, a lever, a locking bolt for the breech door connected to the lever, a spring associated with the lever for moving the bolt to its operative position, a shaft which is rotatable for opening and closing the muzzle door, and an arm rotatable as said shaft is rotated and adapted to engage the lever tohold the bolt inoperative when the muzzle door is closed, and to disengage the lever when the muzzle door is opened; substantially as described.

7. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising the com bination of a tube, torpedo launching means including an air line having a normally closed Valve interposed therein, a muzzledoor, means for opening and closing the muzzle .door including a rotatable shaft, a Worm carried by the shaft, a gear meshing with the worm, and a member movable with said gear for opening the valve when the shaft has been rotated to open the muzzle door; substantially as described.

8. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising the combination of a tube, a muzzle door, means for opening and closing the muzzle door including a rotatable shaft, a worm fixed on the shaft adjacent the breech of the tube, a second shaft, a signaling device on the second shaft, a worm gear fixed on the second shaft and meshing with said worm, an arm mounted to move with the worm gear, and torpedo launching means including an air line having a spring-closed interlock valve interposed therein, the stem of which is engaged by said arm to open the valve when said shaft is rotated to open the muzzle door; substantially as described.

, tuate said lock and 9. A torpedo launching apparatus coinprising the combination of a tube, a breech door, a muzzle door, a shaft extending lengthwise of the tube, rotatable for opening and closing the muzzle door, actuated locking device for the breech door, a spring-actuated valve controlling the supply of compressed air to the tube to expel a torpedo therefrom, a second shaft geared to said shaft, and an arm carried by the second shaft, which, when the second shaft is turned in one direction is adapted to acwhen the second shaft is turned in the other direction is adapted vto actuate said valve; substantially as described.

10. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising the combination of a tube, a breech door, a muzzle door, a shaft extending lengthwise of the tube and rotatable to open and close the muzzle door, a vertical shaft geared to said shaft by worm gearing, a signaling device on the vertical shaft, a

- spring-actuated lock for the breech door, a

spring-actuated valve for controlling the a spring supply of compressed air to the tube to expel a torpedo therefrom, and an arm on the vertical shaft engaging said look when it is moved in one direction and said valve When it is moved in the other direction; sub stantially as described.

11. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising the combination of a tube, a breech door, a muzzle door, a shaft extending lengthwise of the tube, rotatable to close and open the muzzle door, a ratchet on said shaft, a spring-actuated lever operated by the breech door and coacting with said ratchet to prevent rotation of said shaft, a spring-actuated lock for the breech door, a spring-actuated valve controlling the supply of air to the tube to expel a torpedo therefrom, a second shaft connected to said shaft by worm gearing, and an arm on the second shaft movable in one direction to operate said lock and in the other direction to operate said valve; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

OSCAR A. TI-IELIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

